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NEWS IN CHINA

• China Engages Uruguay to Deepen Bilateral Cooperation: Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, visiting Uruguay, affirmed China’s readiness to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership under the guidance of their two heads of state. Over 37 years of diplomatic ties, the nations have maintained mutual respect and equality, achieving fruitful cooperation across diverse fields. Ding conveyed greetings from President Xi Jinping and emphasized opportunities arising from China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, aiming to deepen political trust, strengthen exchanges, and boost practical cooperation in the economy, trade, finance, agriculture, AI, and digital economy within the Belt and Road framework. Both sides stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation and of upholding international fairness through initiatives such as the Global Development and Security Initiatives. Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi welcomed strengthened Belt and Road cooperation and expressed readiness to support multilateralism and a free, open international trade system. The visit culminated in the signing of agreements on economic, technological, and customs cooperation, underscoring a mutual commitment to expanding bilateral ties.
  
  
• Symposium Honors Legacy of Cultural Pioneer Zou Taofen: A symposium commemorating the 130th anniversary of Zou Taofen’s birth was held in Beijing on November 5. Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the event and delivered a keynote speech. Participants paid tribute to Zou Taofen as an outstanding patriot, publisher, and journalist who embodied the moral integrity and progressive spirit of modern Chinese intellectuals. Speakers emphasized that Zou’s lifelong dedication to national rejuvenation, social progress, and public enlightenment remains deeply relevant today. They highlighted the importance of drawing inspiration from his example to advance cultural innovation and the development of a strong socialist cultural foundation in the new era. Attendees reaffirmed their commitment to studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on culture and the guiding spirit of the 20th CPC Central Committee’s Fourth Plenary Session. They stressed the need to balance tradition with reform, enhance technological integration within the publishing sector, and cultivate new cultural achievements that reflect the aspirations of the era. The symposium was jointly organized by the Taofen Foundation, the All-China Journalists Association, and the Publishers Association of China.
  
  
• Central Lecture Group Advances Study of Fourth Plenary Session Spirit: The Central Lecture Group on studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee held a series of reports across China, including at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Zhejiang, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Xinjiang. Leading officials and scholars delivered in-depth interpretations of the plenary session’s guiding principles, focusing on the 15th Five-Year Plan’s role in realizing socialist modernization and strengthening theoretical foundations for national development. At the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, President Gao Xiang outlined the plenary session’s strategic tasks and called for producing high-quality research that supports Chinese-style modernization. In Zhejiang, Tian Peiyan emphasized the importance of aligning theory with practice and fostering confidence in achieving modernization goals. Han Jun, speaking in Sichuan, underscored integrating Xi Jinping Thought with the session’s key directives to guide practical progress. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuzhuo’s address in Yunnan and Shen Chunyao’s lecture in Xinjiang highlighted strengthening unity and translating the plenary spirit into tangible development achievements. These lectures marked a comprehensive nationwide effort to deepen understanding, enhance policy integration, and inspire collective action toward advancing China’s modernization roadmap.
  
  
• Premier Li Qiang Reaffirms Commitment to High-Standard Opening Up At CIIE: During the opening ceremony of the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, Premier Li Qiang emphasized China’s resolve to pursue high quality growth and unwaveringly promote high-standard opening up. He highlighted China’s steady expansion of institutional opening and pilot programs aimed at accelerating the services sector’s openness, underscoring the nation's modernization as a source of global economic stability. He noted this year’s record participation at CIIE, reflecting the vitality of China’s super-large market despite global protectionism and economic disruptions. Li called for upholding equality, mutual benefit, and safeguarding international fairness and justice while advocating for reforms in international governance and trade rules with a focus on WTO-centered multilateralism. Li also linked these efforts to the recent recommendations for China’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
  
  
• Guidelines Issued to Strengthen Faculty at Chinese Universities: In an effort to reinforce China’s higher education sector, six government departments, including the Ministry of Education, jointly released new guidelines to standardize the recruitment, development, utilization, and retention of young university faculty. The move recognizes young teachers as key drivers of educational innovation and national development. The guidelines urge universities to improve talent management systems by emphasizing merit-based and needs-driven recruitment, with special attention to fundamental, emerging, and interdisciplinary fields. The document calls for more effective identification and support of outstanding doctoral graduates and skilled industry personnel, along with innovative mechanisms for candidate selection and career development. It recommends robust mentorship, joint training initiatives with enterprises, and international exchange opportunities, while enhancing support for original scientific research and cross-disciplinary projects. Performance assessment reforms will deemphasize paper counts and awards, instead focusing on teaching quality, research impact, and substantive contributions to university and team goals. Flexible hiring and tenure systems are encouraged, providing autonomy in job creation and evaluation cycles. The guidelines also propose salary reforms, expanded institutional autonomy in compensation, and efforts to decrease non-academic burdens, thus improving the well-being and motivation of young university teachers.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

“Surrender App” Simulation Mocking Taiwan Goes Viral: A viral trend on Chinese social media has emerged after some netizens designed a "surrender app" targeting Taiwan. The app ostensibly offers "one-click surrender," a feature to report pro-independence individuals, and rankings of the number of surrenderers in various regions of Taiwan. The app simulation has sparked lively discussions. Commenters flooded Weibo with remarks such as, “Finally, an app that makes surrendering easier than debating independence!” and “If surrender numbers decide capitals, then we need to check the leaderboard daily!” The meme went viral, with netizens flooding Weibo comment sections with witty remarks and playful banter. The incident reflects how sections of Chinese social media engage with political topics using mockery and humour.

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Daily Reports on India’s Decision to Repatriate Nationals From Thailand: China’s National Business Daily has reported on the Indian government's decision to repatriate stranded Indian nationals from Thailand, following a recent raid on the KK Industrial Park in Myanmar. The article reports that Myanmar’s military recently raided the notorious KK Industrial Park in Kayin State near the Thai border, targeting telecom fraud operations, which led to the detention of over 2,000 suspects. Of nearly 1,600 individuals who fled across the border into Mae Sot, Thailand, 500 were Indian nationals. The article reports that the Indian Air Force is coordinating evacuation flights scheduled for November 6 and 10 to repatriate these stranded nationals. It also states that this latest repatriation effort follows a similar operation earlier this year when India rescued hundreds of citizens from similar scam centres in the region. The article quotes experts who state that these nationals were lured by promises of high salaries but later found themselves trapped in fraudulent work. It also claims that joint operations by China and other Southeast Asian countries have achieved significant results. 

Prepared By

Arav Neil Dey

Arav Neil Dey is a research intern at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). Currently in his second year at FLAME University, he is pursuing a degree in International Studies. Driven by a fascination for global dynamics, he is passionate about international relations, peace and conflict studies, and military history. Arav especially enjoys diving into the shifting strategic landscape of China and West Asia, always seeking out unconventional perspectives and a deeper understanding.